Baldwin senior Dylan Jamison dribbles the ball during a quarterfinals match with Kansas City Christian Tuesday at BHS.

If the match had not gone to penalty kicks, Baldwin head coach Matthew McCune believes the game would still be going on.

After 110 minutes of scoreless action, which featured four different overtimes, the quarterfinals match between Baldwin and Kansas City Christian Academy turned to penalty kicks. The Panthers netted all five penalty kicks to knock off the Bulldogs Tuesday at BHS to punch their ticket to the 4-3-2-1A state tournament.

With the loss, Baldwin ended a strong season with a 12-6-1 record.

“I told them at the end that we could have played this game for two weeks, it still would have been 0-0,” McCune said. “Sometimes, that is soccer for you. It is a brutal sport, but the effort was there.”

Baldwin junior Jordan Barth passes the ball during a quarterfinals match with Kansas City Christian Tuesday at BHS.

Baldwin seniors Jacob Bailey, Dylan Jamison, Erza Steinshouer and Nathan Cessna each netted their respective penalty kick. Sophomore goalkeeper Tanner O’Connor, who made several saves throughout the match, was unable to stop any of the five penalty kicks by the Panthers.

But the Bulldogs posted a stellar showing on the defensive end in the loss. O’Connor registered a couple of early saves, which led to another strong showing in the net.

In addition, Bailey helped lead the defensive line amid cold conditions. Junior Jordan Barth and Steinshouer halted multiple fastbreaks along with Bailey. Sophomore Grady McCune and junior Tyler Wales created turnovers in the midfield along with Jamison.

Seniors Matthew Jackson and Cessna, along with junior Colton Long, put pressure on the opposing defense with their aggressiveness upfront.

“We were just evenly matched throughout,” Bailey said. “It all starts in the front, our attackers had pressure up top. Our midfielders were able to listen to me and they were dropping.”

Baldwin senior Matthew Jackson looks to make a pass during a quarterfinals match with Kansas City Christian Tuesday at BHS.

The defensive dominance was no surprise, as the Bulldogs have demonstrated that throughout the season. They allowed 18 goals in the regular season, which was the fourth-fewest scores surrendered in Class 4-3-2-1A.

On the offensive end, Baldwin had its chances. The hosts had control of possession, and recorded multiple corner attempts. Jackson’s shot on goal bounced off the post during the final seconds of the second overtime.

“(The seniors) meant everything,” McCune said. “They were a great example. For a coach at a small school, having 10 seniors that were a close group, it is just wonderful. They provided leadership and chemistry.”

LHS seniors crucial for first-year coach

Much has been made about the future of the Lawrence High football program.

After all, plenty of players from the sophomore class got their first varsity action during a 1-8 season for LHS. It gives the program optimism when looking down the road under head coach Steve Rampy, who just completed his first year at Lawrence.

Yet, even though Rampy is also confident in the program’s future, he is quick to admit how important this group of seniors was to him this season.

“I’ll never forget them,” Rampy said following the team’s season-ending loss to Derby.

photo by: Kevin Anderson

Lions’ head coach Steve Rampy coaches his team Thursday, Aug. 30, 2018, during a game against Olathe South at Olathe District Activity Center. LHS fell to O-South, 26-10.

In particular, the six senior captains proved to be crucial for Rampy as he transitioned back to the high school level after spending eight years as an offensive coordinator for Pittsburg State University. Rampy, who also coached at Blue Valley for 25 seasons, believed it was important to have captains at LHS.

Seniors Caleb Mondi, E.J. Jewsome, Eric Galbreath Jr, Bryce Tibke, Sam Bart and Garrett Romero were the team’s captains in 2018. Many other seniors contributed leadership throughout the year, as well.

“Caleb Mondi is one of the greatest leaders I have ever coached,” Rampy said. “He brings it to practice every single day. I’ll miss him terribly, all of them, really. I’ve never had a kid like him.”

Former Lion nets weekly award

Baker running back JD Woods was selected as the Heart Football offensive player of the week, which was announced Monday afternoon.

Baker freshman and Lawrence High alumnus JD Woods looks for the open field after corralling an interception in the second half of the Wildcats’ 36-33 loss to Georgetown (Ky.) in the first round of the NAIA playoffs on Saturday at Liston Stadium.

Woods, who played high school football at Lawrence High, ran for 221 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries. His performance lifted Baker to a 62-7 win over Central Methodist University this past weekend. The Wildcats are now 6-2 with two games remaining in the regular season.

During his senior year of high school in 2015, Woods earned all-state honors after rushing for 1,933 yards and 34 touchdowns. He broke the program record for career rushing yards (3,909) and rushing touchdowns (58).